The cousins are coming!

Friday

Sep 1, 2017 at 3:30 PM

Dave and Kathi Blevins have a close relationship with her mother's family in Italy

Bette McFarren@LaJuntaTD

Kathi and Dave Blevins are expecting company on Monday - from Italy! And there’s a great story attached. Kathi’s mom was an Italian girl her father, George Barto, met when he was a soldier in Italy in World War II. She was standing in a line for soap, and he must have decided she was too beautiful to stand in line; anyhow, he brought her some soap. On their first trip back to Italy, her mother’s sister took them to see the courtyard where the meeting took place so many years ago.

The courtship went fast, with Antoinette Cardanale and George Barto marrying in November 1944 - traditional Italian style, with all the pageantry that could be managed in Foggia, which was a bombed-out city in 1944 - perhaps they went to nearby Torino, another now glamorous Adriatic Sea city which was war-torn in 1944.

Antoinette (Toni) was always accompanied by her brother-in-law Mario during the courtship. Mario was of great help, since he was multi-lingual (Italian, German, English) and George spoke no Italian and Toni, no English. His linguistic ability had come in handy once before when the family was in a German concentration camp. He overheard the soldiers planning a skirmish with the Americans. He sent Toni to walk by them as a distraction while he listened. Then they planned their escape through the no-man’s land during the battle. Many did not make it, but Toni, Mario and her sister Margarita did.

Dave Blevins had a college roommate, Bob Rollins, who was taking a trip to Europe in the summer of 1970. Hearing about Kathi’s Italian relatives made him want to check them out, see where they are living now, and report back to Dave and Kathi. Those weren’t just idle promises. He actually found Toni’s sister Margarita and her family and Mario and his family. In 1971, Kathi’s father, George Barto, died. Margarita and the Italian family sent flowers and letters of sympathy. They also called on the phone.

In 1971, Kathi, her mother, brother Steve and brother Mike went to Italy to meet their cousins. They attended the wedding of Antoinetta, the niece named after Kathi’s mom. It was a grand affair, lasting for days. Then they toured Europe for five weeks.

In 1981, Aunt Margarita came to the U.S. and stayed a couple of months. All of the communication was done by mail, with Toni writing in Italian back and forth with Margarita. Margarita’s daughter Viviana kept up the correspondence when Margarita died. When Toni died, they let Viviana know with the help of Lee Sarlo and Mr. Eckhart from Swink who spoke Italian. Again the Italian family sent flowers to the funeral and condolences.

The contact was sporadic over the years, but once again, when Mike Barto died in an accident, she let Viviana know. Again the flowers and condolences came. Then brother Steve Barto had a wonderful idea: Italian women do not take their husbands’ names, so they could be contacted via Facebook. The Italian family immediately wanted to know what had taken them so long to figure that out. Kathi and Dave went to Italy again in 2013 and her brother Steve spent most of the winter there in 2016.

They were also in Italy in 2014 for the World’s Fair in Milan, said Kathi. In other words, they have seen their cousins a lot and feel close to them. “They are so warm and fun-loving, we always have a wonderful time,” said Kathi. “And now the cousins are coming to Colorado to see us. They will be in La Junta next week until Thursday.” Cousin Silvana, Margarita’s daughter, Silvana’s husband Paolo, their son Alex (who lives in England now and speaks English) and his fiancee Magda (from Poland, also speaks English). Alex is a vegan chef in London.

Kathi loves Italy. She and Dave were much impressed when Dave lost his medications while traveling. A doctor there phoned the pharmacy for them and was able to obtain all the medicines Dave was taking. They couldn’t believe it cost only $50. She is excited about showing the cousins a good time here and so happy that many La Juntans are helping. Jeremy Manyik will help them tour the Kiva Museum and Greg Holt will show them around Bent’s Fort. They will be warmly greeted at Mexico City on Wednesday evening. So if you see a crowd of happy Italians, say “Ciao!”